Referral programs are one of the easiest ways to get real value when signing up for a new service. Most people leave money on the table simply by not using one. Here are the best programs active in 2026, ranked by category.
Finance & Investing
Robinhood is one of the most generous referral programs in investing. Both the new user and the referrer receive a free stock. Values range from a few dollars to over $200. No deposit required, just link a bank account.
Chime offers cash bonuses for both parties when a new member sets up direct deposit. The exact amount varies, but it's one of the better banking referrals available. No monthly fees makes it low-risk to try.
SoFi provides a cash bonus to new members who sign up and fund an account. Existing members who refer earn a cash reward as well. SoFi's referral program tends to have higher dollar amounts than most.
Public.com offers a free stock slice to new investors who sign up through a referral link, similar to Robinhood's program.
Travel & Rides
Airbnb has a well-established referral program for guests: new users get travel credit on their first trip. The amount has varied over the years but typically covers a meaningful portion of a first stay.
Uber offers ride credit to new users who sign up with a referral code. Both the referrer and the new rider benefit. The exact discount varies by market.
Hopper offers a discount to new users who book through a referral link, useful if you're already using Hopper to track flight prices.
Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve: existing cardholders earn 10,000-15,000 Ultimate Rewards points per successful referral (up to 50,000 per year). For context, that's worth $100-$150 in travel when redeemed through Chase. One of the best credit card referrals available.
American Express Platinum: Amex runs a referral program where existing cardholders earn Membership Rewards points for referring friends who are approved.
Food Delivery
DoorDash gives new users credit on their first order. Referrers earn DoorDash credit when their friend completes a first order.
HelloFresh offers a significant discount (often $100+ across the first few boxes) to new subscribers who use a referral link. It's one of the highest-value meal kit referrals.
Fitness
Peloton runs a referral program with accessories credit for both parties when a new member purchases equipment or a membership.
VPN & Productivity
NordVPN offers a discount to new subscribers via referral, and referrers earn commission-style credit. Useful if you're already considering a VPN subscription.
Duolingo has a referral program for its premium Plus/Max tiers, offering free trial extensions for referrers.
How to actually use a referral code
The catch with most referral programs is that you need to know someone who already uses the service. That's where GivCode helps. It's a community pool where real users share their referral codes. You claim one, use it when signing up, and both you and the code owner benefit. It's free to use and all codes are verified by the community.